id say for starters take off the oil pan and clean it out real good, and while your at it check the pump. the engine needs more than a flushing agent, cause certain oils over time react to different additives, if the guy who owned the engine never gave it oil change or constanly added a thickening agent or something, then over time it sort of jellies up a bit.


got my 78 merc with a 250 I6 and i love it.